Yesterday the MY Question, MY Research event took place at Trust HQ. The event was organised by Mid Yorks Research and Development (https://twitter.com/MYorksResearch) and was a fantastic opportunity for attendees to learn about some of the many research projects completed by members of staff within the Trust and other projects currently underway.

The staff library was in attendance at the event providing information to attendees on the many library resources which are available to aid research.

We also have a whole host of research textbooks which are available for loan to help support you in your research (you can search our full library catalogue online – http://midyorks.nhslibraries.com).

The library is also able to offer training to support researchers on critical appraisal, training on literature searching and will perform literature searches for busy staff. For further information on these services please contact the library.

As it is National Self Care Week we thought it was the ideal opportunity to remind Trust Staff that they have access to a variety of health and wellbeing books in the library, as well as books for pleasure reading.

“Self Care Week is an annual national awareness week that focuses on embedding support for self care across communities, families and generations.” Remember self care includes NHS staff, who should prioritise their own health and wellbeing. There is also a range of resources available here on the NHS website and self care forum have produced a variety of factsheets for different ailments that can be treated at home.

All staff are welcome to come, browse and borrow books from this collection. We also welcome donations of fiction books if you are having a clear out at home. Let us know if you can recommend any health and wellbeing books for the library.

Behind the headlines

The actual rise in successful quit attempts was just under 0.1% for each 1% rise in e-cigarette use. The study can’t prove using e-cigarettes is the direct reason for the improved rate of quit attempts as other confounding factors may have been involved. Attempting to quit with e-cigarettes alone may not…

You may not know how exciting the FREE graphic design software (Canva) is and may feel you cannot read any further, but hold your horses because this piece is about to get much more interesting. Ask yourself: do you want to create professional looking designs for infographics, leaflets, flyers & presentations easily? If so then read on because although I have said this once it bears repeating, It’s FREE!

Today I’m blogging about Canva which we in the library have been getting acquainted with for a few months now. We’ve been using the software to create promotional designs which we can then post on Facebook, add to Tweets, and sure enough here I am blogging about design software.

One of the ways I have found it particularly useful is its role in marketing, gathering together visual images of latest resources adding some blurb and then sending it via Twitter and Facebook to our followers.

More targeted is where we add a graphic display of related resources into email lists.The recipients of which belong to a specific staff group, for example those working within the operating theatres received our ‘all things theatrical’ infographic.

We have had really favourable reactions to this type of promotional activity.

We also use graphical software to promote information about the library more generally – any events looming or specific training courses we have upcoming. Once the graphic is created it can be used again at a later date, copied and edited which is all good recycling practice, saves time and provides us with a usable resource bank for all our promotional activities.

And…we’re getting better

developing our skills by using a wider variety of design formats from flyers to presentations and

we hope to be able to pass this new knowledge on to team members, colleagues, friends and basically anyone who’s interested.

Before I got it right I got it wrong lots of times, this was mighty frustrating but the more I use it the more sense it makes, Canva has become almost indispensable to me at work and… I’m on a voyage of discovery with Prezi of which I will speak more about in the future…

Do you need help with your IELTS study? There are lots of free, online resources available to give you the help that you need. Whether you prefer to study using Apps, video or sample exam papers, this list will take you to the best IELTS resources online.

A guest blog from a friend. Its a long one, much longer than my usual, but worth a read. For health care staff listen carefully. For those who have got caught in the care system read to see helpful insights and perhaps feel less alone:

Thank you to Anne for inviting me to blog as a guest. I write this blog with more than a little encouragement from several people but in particular from Anne. Anne tells me my experience has changed me and there is value in sharing this change of understanding with others. My blog is written to share my experience from my perspective, the intention is to support understanding and learning. Some of my experience did not match up to my expectations but it is not my intention to cause discomfort or harm to those involved I wish to create learning and change. I have made the decision…

While our library service is for staff at the Christie, part of this involves supporting the provision of patient information. Jonathan Berry claims that “between 43% and 61% of English working age adults routinely do not understand health information” this may include;

misunderstanding an important diagnosis

being confused about instructions for medication

not understanding medical jargon, for example on hospital signage or during outpatient appointments or inpatient stays

not understanding clearly how some conditions (i.e.. diabetes) can be self managed, or prevented through lifestyle factors

As such, low levels of health literacy can cause illness and in turn cost the NHS money which could have been prevented by medical professionals explaining things in plain language, engaging their…

Autumnal greetings and bleatings to all who visit the blog this week. it’s the library and I feel bound this week to discuss books, the old fashioned kind made from paper, printed and pressed, bound and finished on a press such as the one below, which is a thing of beauty….!

This image (snatched from Wikipedia – you can read further here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Gutenberg ) is of one of the original Guttenberg printing presses, this according to Wikipedia now lives in Bermuda (like the triangle). But back to our NEW book stock…aka

Not to be missed!

Many boxes arrived earlier this week and the subject matter, variety and colour are quite fabulous, it would be wrong not to SHOUT! about them…

Topics covered go….

From paediatrics to anatomy and physiology whilst whistle-blowing in the NHS, there’s clinical specialities and cases with a side of hypnobirthing and transcultural nursing. Healthcare management features alongside ophthalmology and geriatric medicine and the letters MRCPGH and FRCA SOE are a given. General practice is not forgotten along with paramedic practice and safe prescribing. But here’s a word-jumble which might help!

Last Wednesday members of the library staff were privileged to attend, and participate in, the event held to celebrate the life and achievements of our exceptional Consultant Dr Kate Granger.

This was an extraordinary evening. It was full of happy memories portrayed on display boards and shown as video clips that demonstrated outstanding achievements. Butterflies and sunflowers were in evidence throughout the building. There was beautiful music, emotive talks and poetry. Emotions ran high and there was laughter, smiles and tears in equal measure.

The most moving addresses came from Kate’s best friend and husband and I was impressed at their composure when discussing her life, relationships and difficult journey.

The #Hellomyname is campaign was a strong feature, as it is her legacy and will endure.

Donations were collected in support of the Yorkshire Cancer Centre and St Gemma’s Hospice.

The final poem endeavored to demonstrate her achievements in a few short lines:

Ode to Dr Kate Granger

Life Well Lived

Most people have ambition to attain a well lived life

To leave a good impression, make a difference in some way

And in amongst the bad times, the worries and the strife

Feel perhaps their kindly actions have improved somebody’s day

We are here to celebrate the life of someone who achieved

This goal, not just a few times but at least a hundredfold

Whose talents, warmth and kindness were her drivers to succeed

To help relieve the burdens of the sick both young and old

Not only as a doctor was this work to be performed

But also by fundraising in diverse and novel ways

And promoting introductions meant that working was reformed

Hence “Hello my name is” became a standard phrase

Observing as a patient gave material for a book

That not only helped her colleagues, but the layman in his turn

Then fundraising from the proceeds of the dainties she would cook

Gave the title “Master Baker” that so richly she did earn

Her courage knew no boundaries when a challenge came her way

Overcoming fear of heights meant she could skydive from a plane

To swim the English Channel – insurmountable some say

Determination made her triumph and her goal she did obtain

Though her journey was not easy she would always wear a smile

And her positive approach would make her Twitter audience grow

As they shared with her their concern and support throughout her trial

Her followers ensured their admiration she would know

Respect came from many angles, even honoured by the Queen

Though she did not seek for glory or material reward

Her motive was improvement her success was clearly seen

Compassion was her keyword and the name of her award

Yes the actions of one person touched the world in many ways

We were privileged to know her and her work was just a start

It will go on; it’s a legacy that time will not erase

A life well lived lives on in both the mind and in the heart

The evening concluded with a balloon release. Everyone carried at least one white balloon and following their liberation they poignantly clung together as they climbed up to meet the clouds.

The evening has left a lasting impression on the people who attended, and, as has been said, it was “A beautiful tribute to Dr Kate Granger by her friends, colleagues and family”.